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Bomb threat found on bathroom stall at Longmont High School

Threat is second this month at St. Vrain Valley School District high school

By Magdalena Wegrzyn Longmont Times-Call

Posted:
01/25/2013 12:57:59 PM MST

Updated:
02/26/2013 04:07:08 PM MST

LONGMONT -- A threat stating that an explosive device was in the school was found written on a bathroom stall at Longmont High School early Friday morning.

Longmont Police Cmdr. Jeff Satur said two classrooms specified in the threat were searched and determined to be safe.

"At this point, the threat was just a threat," Satur said.

At about 8:05 a.m. Friday, a Longmont High teacher used the restroom and discovered the threat written on the wall, Satur said. School officials conduct regular bathroom checks and found nothing suspicious during a 7:30 a.m. sweep.

Satur said the threat specified two classrooms and noted that an explosive device was in the school. He declined to say which rooms were mentioned.

School officials cleared both rooms -- neither of which was "heavily occupied," Satur said -- and notified police. A bomb-sniffing dog and a bomb technician checked both rooms.

"We take the threat very seriously," Satur said.

The threat is the second one this month at a St. Vrain Valley School District high school. Last week, a 17-year-old student was arrested on suspicion of making a "hit list" that implied a bomb threat at Niwot High School. A school employee found the threatening note written on a restroom stall's door at the school on Jan. 7.

Satur said police do not believe the incident at Longmont High is related to the one at Niwot High.

An email about the Longmont High incident was sent to parents at about 11:30. It notes that a teacher discovered the threat at 7:45 a.m.

St. Vrain Valley School District spokesman John Poynton said that teachers told their students about the incident.

At 11:30 a.m., teachers read a message to students that noted that "all precautions have been and continue to be taken for the safety and security of our students and staff. The building has been deemed safe and school will continue as normal."

As of 12:30 p.m., Poynton said that the school was calm and that "students are going about their business."

Satur said that police planned to meet with teachers after school Friday to review the note found on the bathroom stall and find out if teachers recognized the handwriting.

Satur said police do not have any suspects at this point. Anyone with information is asked to call the Longmont Police Department at 303-651-8501 or Northern Colorado Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS. Tips also may be submitted at nococrimestoppers.com. Tips can also be submitted through the Safe-2-Tell system at 877-542-7233 (SAFE) or online at safe2tell.org.

The school district is offering a $500 reward for information leading to the identification of the person who made the threat.

Satur praised school officials for their work keeping Longmont High safe.

"They just did an excellent job making sure those areas were safe," Satur said.

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